Become a Licensed Individual Tax Preparer in Maryland

Become a Tax Preparer in just weeks with our 60-hour qualifying tax course.

The Income Tax School (ITS) offers a 45-hour Comprehensive Tax Preparation Course that provides the federal tax education needed to sit for the Maryland Registered Tax Return Preparer Exam required by the Maryland State Board.

Please note: The Comprehensive Tax Course covers federal tax material only. There are Maryland State tax questions on the Maryland Exam that are not covered in the Comprehensive Tax Course because they are specific to Maryland.

Enroll Now Maryland law requires anyone who prepares tax returns for a fee in the State of Maryland, to register as a tax preparer with Maryland.

4 Steps to become a Licensed Tax Preparer in Maryland:

You must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid High School Diploma or GED.

Hold a current Federal Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) issued by the Internal Revenue Service. The PTIN must be renewed each tax year and registrants must submit a copy their most recent IRS PTIN Confirmation Certificate to the Board at the beginning of each tax year.

Pass the Maryland Registered Tax Return Preparer Examination.

Register with the Maryland State Board to prepare Maryland individual tax returns. You must have a current, valid federal PTIN for the issuance of a MD state registration. The registration fee is $100 and must be renewed every two years.

Current registered tax preparers and first-time applicants for registration may qualify for waiver from the examination under two limited conditions:

The tax preparer passed the Registered Tax Return Preparer (RTRP) examination administered by the IRS from January 1, 2010 to January 18, 2013. Download RTRP Examination Confirmation Sheet; or

The tax preparer provided 15 consecutive years of tax preparation services, and performed these services for the a 15 year average of 50 returns annually, and have completed 8 hours of annual continuiing education for the last 3 years, download the 15 year experience waiver application. PLEASE NOTE: experience providing tax returns for compensation in Maryland after December 31, 2015 does not qualify for use for this option.

It’s easy to become a Licensed Individual Tax Preparer in Maryland with our Comprehensive Income Tax Course. Get everything you need to start your career – fast!

All you have to do is study the tax material we give you, and understand when certain laws and rules apply. The ITS Comprehensive Tax Course teaches you all the federal tax education you need to know to succeed as a tax professional in Maryland! Please note: The Comprehensive Tax Course covers federal tax material only. There are Maryland State tax questions on the Maryland Exam that are not covered in the Comprehensive Tax Course because they are specific to Maryland.

We help you:

Learn tax preparation – with our Comprehensive Tax Course. In this beginner tax preparer course, you will learn to prepare federal tax returns and research tax issues for most Form 1040 individual, non-business taxpayers and small business taxpayers (self-employed/Schedule C). Upon successful completion of the course, we will send you a Certificate of Completion and submit your course completion information directly to the Maryland Board of Individual Tax Preparers.

Enroll Now And, if you’re thinking of going into business for yourself –you’ll want to add our Business Start Up Guides to your Comprehensive Tax Course. They will help you start your own tax business in weeks without franchise fees or royalties.

With these Business Start Up Guides, you’ll be in business in no time!